$165,000 Settlement in Understaffing at Nursing Home

Francis Stevens, 58, was admitted to Garden Spring Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. At the time of his admission, he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, heart failure and venous insufficiency.

Stevens was also at high risk for pressure ulcers. Several months after his admission, he developed foot wounds and experienced weight loss. Abnormal lab results and a change in his condition prompted his transfer to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with sepsis and chronic lower extremity wounds.

Stevens was discharged from the hospital with instructions for daily wound care and skin breakdown prevention. However, Stevens was hospitalized several more times over the next five months, including for treatment of multiple pressure sores on his heel, sacrum and knees.

He unfortunately died approximately five months after his first hospitalization. The cause of death was sepsis resulting from infected pressure sores. Stevens was survived by his two adult children.

The Stevens estate filed suit against GS Rehab & Nursing Center LLC, and others, alleging claims for wrongful death and survival. The estate asserted that the facility had been understaffed and that the employees were inadequately trained and supervised, which led to Stevens’ development of pressure sores and injury.

Before trial, the parties settled for $165,000.

The attorney successfully handling this matter for the Stevens family was Andrei Govorov.

Stevens v. GS Rehab & Nursing Center, LLC, No. 2022-03465 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pl. Montgomery County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death cases, nursing home bedsore lawsuits, sepsis cases, and medical negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 50 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Lemont, Matteson, Chicago Heights, South Holland, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Aurora, St. Charles, New Lenox, Countryside, Oak Lawn, Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates, Crystal Lake, Grayslake, Waukegan, Zion, Northfield, Chicago (Englewood, Washington Heights, Chatham, Calumet Heights, South Shore, Hyde Park, West Loop, Austin, North Lawndale, Little Village, Garfield Park, Logan Square, Avondale, Roscoe Village, Beverly, Ravenswood, Sauganash, Jefferson Park), Rosemont, Algonquin, Oak Forest, Park Forest, Forest Park and Crestwood, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.